Clooney Navigates Irony and Melancholy with Grace in “Jay Kelly”
Among the most anticipated titles of the 82nd Venice Film Festival is “Jay Kelly“, the new work by the master of contemporary fragilities, Noah Baumbach. Produced by Netflix and premiering as part of the competition, this feature film is a surreal encounter between two distant yet complementary worlds: George Clooney and Adam Sandler, who are finally sharing the screen.
The other night, slightly delayed by a heavy downpour, Clooney arrived at the Lido hand in hand with his wife, Amal, seemingly bringing back the good weather. Alongside the Hollywood power couple was fellow star Adam Sandler and other members of the cast, including Laura Dern, Italy’s own Alba Rohrwacher, and Billy Crudup. The guest list was just as glittering, featuring the festival’s ever-present godmother Emanuela Fanelli, Naomi Watts, and Greta Gerwig, Baumbach’s muse and creative partner. A parade that heralded not just a film, but an intergenerational dialogue between actors, filmmakers, and audiences.
But what is Jay Kelly really about? Baumbach’s film follows the inner and outer journey of a world-famous actor, trapped in his own public image, and his friend and manager, Ron. This international road movie spans Italy, the UK, and the United States, blending lightness and melancholy, irony and regret. With cinematography by Linus Sandgren, a score by Nicholas Britell, and editing by Valerio Bonelli, Jay Kelly presents itself as a wide-ranging work, one that captures the emotional complexity of our time.
Text: Germano D’Acquisto
Photos: Ludovica Arcero
